Intrinsic Security and Privacy Vulnerabilities in the Internet of Things
Syed Rameem Zahra · 2020
Today, the application of Internet of Things (IoT) ranges from handling objects of apparent insignificance, such as thermostats, to controlling life-saving surgical implants. Its rate of expansion—from agriculture to athletics; personal safety to intelligent traffic detection; baby monitors to defense systems—is astonishing. However, this rapid expansion and escalation journey of IoT could face an equally rapid downfall if its Security and Privacy (S&P) concerns are not acknowledged and dealt with urgently. The S&P issues creep in IoT devices because they are inherently insecure. Little or no consideration is given to IoT’s S&P in the design phase. Even the enabling technologies and protocols employed in IoT have critical security vulnerabilities. This paper identifies the vulnerabilities that intrinsically exist in the devices, enabling technologies, and infrastructure protocols of IoT. It also identifies various research opportunities in the field of S&P of IoT, which could be taken up by scholars and security professionals to further the success of IoT.